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Dead End Tunnel
Maverick Hall has spent years trying to forget the chilling events of his thirteenth birthday in the summer of 1999. That fateful night, he and his best friends ventured through a seemingly innocuous tunnel on their bikes — a journey from which not all of them returned.
Now, as an adult, Maverick is haunted by a sinister force that compels him to return to his old neighborhood, a place shadowed by secrets, deceit, and an unsettling sense of death. Drawn back against his better judgment, he must face the dark forces that have lurked in waiting, eager for his return. As Maverick confronts the shadows of his past, he finds himself entangled in a web of mystery that threatens not only his sanity but his very survival.
This harrowing tale of memory, fear, and the power of the unseen delves deep into the heart of a nightmare that refuses to be forgotten, beckoning Maverick to resolve the terrifying mystery that has haunted him for decades.
Now, as an adult, Maverick is haunted by a sinister force that compels him to return to his old neighborhood, a place shadowed by secrets, deceit, and an unsettling sense of death. Drawn back against his better judgment, he must face the dark forces that have lurked in waiting, eager for his return. As Maverick confronts the shadows of his past, he finds himself entangled in a web of mystery that threatens not only his sanity but his very survival.
This harrowing tale of memory, fear, and the power of the unseen delves deep into the heart of a nightmare that refuses to be forgotten, beckoning Maverick to resolve the terrifying mystery that has haunted him for decades.
194 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 14, 2024
360 people are currently reading
4499 people want to read
About the author
Nick Roberts
31 books2,483 followersNick Roberts is a native West Virginian and a doctoral graduate of Marshall University. He is an active member of the Horror Writers Association and the Horror Authors Guild. His works include Anathema, The Exorcist's House, It Haunts the Mind & Other Stories, and Mean Spirited. He currently resides in South Carolina with his family and is an advocate for people in recovery from substance use disorder.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 295 reviews
August 1, 2024
“Dead End Tunnel” by Nick Roberts starts with a creepy chapter to set the tone for what awaits. Even the book cover is frightening, which immediately drew me in to see what kind of tunnel I was excited to jump into. One thing that mainly hooked me was how it felt so real, thanks to telling a solid story through dual timelines that blurred reality and fiction.
Before I begin my review, I found only one trigger warning while reading. It was…
- Suicide
If this triggers you, please do not read this book. Moving along, I’ve been following Roberts since “The Exorcist’s House,” which was a brilliant 5-Star read. I love his writing style; his horror has always been unique and refreshing. I’ve never read a book about a creepy tunnel that flirts with something evil, sinister, supernatural, and all sorts of madness.
I connected with Mav and his friends since, let’s face it, as a boy, I also used to love riding bikes with friends all around my neighborhood. Especially to places far away, the ones you know you shouldn’t be going to, but you do it anyway for the thrill of being with friends and bike riding into the night.
Once the horror hit, my goodness, it was fantastic. Thanks to this book, I will never look at a walkie-talkie the same again. Don’t worry; I won’t ruin anything for you, but wow, talk about taking something as simple as a kid’s walkie-talkie and adding a horror twist. Even after what happened went down, there was a very specific, supernatural horror scene that I couldn’t believe transpired.
Again, Roberts has a knack for writing horror you’ve probably never read before, and it’s great. That one supernatural scene was very original, scary, and awesome for a horror enthusiast like me. I also loved all the references he threw into this story, from The Lost Boys to 'Salem’s Lot and even The Shining, to name a few.
The suspense took off beyond belief once I hit the 50% mark. I loved it, as the second half of this book was wild. The dual timelines, which added even more context to the story's natural flow, were brilliant. This is usually hard to do without things getting confusing, but Roberts pulled it off flawlessly.
The only thing I didn’t like was the predictable ending I saw coming. I still enjoyed it because, my goodness, it ends in such a way that makes me wonder what the hell I just experienced. Wow! This is going to be something everyone talks about when finished. Especially if this is a book club or buddy read since it leaves much to the imagination. Regardless, it was still one hell of a ride with some exhilarating new kinds of horror, which made this horror book shine.
I give “Dead End Tunnel” by Nick Roberts a 4/5 since it is a horror book I’d recommend to anyone looking for a creepy, scary, supernatural read. The horror is great, the story is solid, and it’s easy to fly through. The pacing is perfect for a quick weekend read, and when you’re done, I promise you will think twice before ever going into a tunnel again.
Before I begin my review, I found only one trigger warning while reading. It was…
- Suicide
If this triggers you, please do not read this book. Moving along, I’ve been following Roberts since “The Exorcist’s House,” which was a brilliant 5-Star read. I love his writing style; his horror has always been unique and refreshing. I’ve never read a book about a creepy tunnel that flirts with something evil, sinister, supernatural, and all sorts of madness.
I connected with Mav and his friends since, let’s face it, as a boy, I also used to love riding bikes with friends all around my neighborhood. Especially to places far away, the ones you know you shouldn’t be going to, but you do it anyway for the thrill of being with friends and bike riding into the night.
Once the horror hit, my goodness, it was fantastic. Thanks to this book, I will never look at a walkie-talkie the same again. Don’t worry; I won’t ruin anything for you, but wow, talk about taking something as simple as a kid’s walkie-talkie and adding a horror twist. Even after what happened went down, there was a very specific, supernatural horror scene that I couldn’t believe transpired.
Again, Roberts has a knack for writing horror you’ve probably never read before, and it’s great. That one supernatural scene was very original, scary, and awesome for a horror enthusiast like me. I also loved all the references he threw into this story, from The Lost Boys to 'Salem’s Lot and even The Shining, to name a few.
The suspense took off beyond belief once I hit the 50% mark. I loved it, as the second half of this book was wild. The dual timelines, which added even more context to the story's natural flow, were brilliant. This is usually hard to do without things getting confusing, but Roberts pulled it off flawlessly.
The only thing I didn’t like was the predictable ending I saw coming. I still enjoyed it because, my goodness, it ends in such a way that makes me wonder what the hell I just experienced. Wow! This is going to be something everyone talks about when finished. Especially if this is a book club or buddy read since it leaves much to the imagination. Regardless, it was still one hell of a ride with some exhilarating new kinds of horror, which made this horror book shine.
I give “Dead End Tunnel” by Nick Roberts a 4/5 since it is a horror book I’d recommend to anyone looking for a creepy, scary, supernatural read. The horror is great, the story is solid, and it’s easy to fly through. The pacing is perfect for a quick weekend read, and when you’re done, I promise you will think twice before ever going into a tunnel again.
October 31, 2024
Spooky as Hell!
Three young teenage friends, together for a birthday sleepover, sneak out of the house for a late night illicit cycle ride to a spooky tunnel. Three youths enter the tunnel but only two emerge at the other side. One of the boys has completely disappeared and the lives of three families changes forever. This tale, part horror and part sci-fi, reminded me of the Stephen King novel 'IT', except that there were no scary clowns in this story - it was something far worse. A story of space/time portals, of creatures from another dimension, friendship, loss and, ultimately, revenge. An excellent and spooky tale for 'All Hallows Eve'. Highly recommended!
Three young teenage friends, together for a birthday sleepover, sneak out of the house for a late night illicit cycle ride to a spooky tunnel. Three youths enter the tunnel but only two emerge at the other side. One of the boys has completely disappeared and the lives of three families changes forever. This tale, part horror and part sci-fi, reminded me of the Stephen King novel 'IT', except that there were no scary clowns in this story - it was something far worse. A story of space/time portals, of creatures from another dimension, friendship, loss and, ultimately, revenge. An excellent and spooky tale for 'All Hallows Eve'. Highly recommended!
May 6, 2025
Finishing this creepy audiobook before bed was probably not a wise decision on my part💀
3.5 stars rounded up for the very well done and creepy audio!
For such a short book, this was actually very well done and crafted. It was creepy and action packed but the ending could have been a bit better imo.
This would also make a killer movie!!
3.5 stars rounded up for the very well done and creepy audio!
For such a short book, this was actually very well done and crafted. It was creepy and action packed but the ending could have been a bit better imo.
This would also make a killer movie!!
August 9, 2024
Spooky!
Small backstory:
Maverick and his two best friends are just wanting to hang out as it is Mav's birthday but his friend Max wants to give Mav something for his birthday but they have to go through a long dark tunnel on their bikes to get there. Things go from having fun to the worst night of their lives when Max disappears on their way through the tunnel. Maverick's life is turned upside down along with the whole town the night Max disappears and Maverick has never forgotten that night. Years later it is time for a revisit but what will Maverick find on his quest to know the truth?
That is about all I can give out on a small backstory without giving away spoilers, so if you want to know more then go read this book!
Thoughts:
This story just grabbed me from the get go and kept me wrapped within its pages till the very end. This story is told in two different time lines - the first part of the book is Maverick as a kid and the second half of the book is Maverick as an adult.
The story moves fast as there is no time to take a breath as the author, Nick Roberts hurtles you toward everything that lies in your path to find out what really happened within the story. I had many late nights reading this story as it kept my insomnia fueled! The mystery deepens as I continued to make my way through the story and even though this is horror it also has a little bit of sci-fi wrapped within the story as well.
Another great book by this author and looking forward to reading whatever else he has coming out! Giving this book five "Nightmare Scary" stars!
Small backstory:
Maverick and his two best friends are just wanting to hang out as it is Mav's birthday but his friend Max wants to give Mav something for his birthday but they have to go through a long dark tunnel on their bikes to get there. Things go from having fun to the worst night of their lives when Max disappears on their way through the tunnel. Maverick's life is turned upside down along with the whole town the night Max disappears and Maverick has never forgotten that night. Years later it is time for a revisit but what will Maverick find on his quest to know the truth?
That is about all I can give out on a small backstory without giving away spoilers, so if you want to know more then go read this book!
Thoughts:
This story just grabbed me from the get go and kept me wrapped within its pages till the very end. This story is told in two different time lines - the first part of the book is Maverick as a kid and the second half of the book is Maverick as an adult.
The story moves fast as there is no time to take a breath as the author, Nick Roberts hurtles you toward everything that lies in your path to find out what really happened within the story. I had many late nights reading this story as it kept my insomnia fueled! The mystery deepens as I continued to make my way through the story and even though this is horror it also has a little bit of sci-fi wrapped within the story as well.
Another great book by this author and looking forward to reading whatever else he has coming out! Giving this book five "Nightmare Scary" stars!
June 18, 2024
DEAD END TUNNEL, by Nick Roberts is a story of Maverick Hall, told in two timelines. The main story takes place on Mav's thirteenth birthday, in the year 1999. A sleepover with his two best friends, leads to events in a certain tunnel that will forever change the way he views the world. While most of the story goes back to detail the events of that time, there are parts where we have Mav--24 years later--moving back to his old hometown to rid himself of the nightmares and visions that started plaguing him again.
". . . One event has the capacity to exponentially alter the world. . . Throw the label on it that best enables your understanding, but in the end, it doesn't matter. It's all just chaos."
After the trip to the tunnel that not everyone returned from, we start to learn more about the individual characters: their motivations, their past in some cases, home life, and the easy companionship that the three boys found with each other. This story had a very "layered" feel for me--the horror that never really goes away, it's always just around the corner, and the personalities/dynamics of the people involved.
". . .one fatal flaw all humans possess is assuming that existence begins and ends with us."
Overall, I enjoyed this story all the way through. I did feel the last few chapters were a bit easy to predict after the novel unfolded, and still had a few questions unanswered, but found it to be a solid horror novel that delivered the scares.
Recommended.
". . . One event has the capacity to exponentially alter the world. . . Throw the label on it that best enables your understanding, but in the end, it doesn't matter. It's all just chaos."
After the trip to the tunnel that not everyone returned from, we start to learn more about the individual characters: their motivations, their past in some cases, home life, and the easy companionship that the three boys found with each other. This story had a very "layered" feel for me--the horror that never really goes away, it's always just around the corner, and the personalities/dynamics of the people involved.
". . .one fatal flaw all humans possess is assuming that existence begins and ends with us."
Overall, I enjoyed this story all the way through. I did feel the last few chapters were a bit easy to predict after the novel unfolded, and still had a few questions unanswered, but found it to be a solid horror novel that delivered the scares.
Recommended.
March 8, 2025
**Update: I am upping this to 5 stars because I can’t stop thinking about it!** March 8, 2025
February 21, 2025 Review:
GREAT horror book! It was very nostalgic, creepy, twisty and it even made me giggle a few times! This was very well written, you could tell the author put a lot of thought into writing this! It gave me the movie poltergeist vibes. I recommend this to anyone that loves horror books. Be sure to look at the trigger warnings prior to reading it. Ahhhhh, this was just too good!! - I give it a 4.5 star rating -
February 21, 2025 Review:
GREAT horror book! It was very nostalgic, creepy, twisty and it even made me giggle a few times! This was very well written, you could tell the author put a lot of thought into writing this! It gave me the movie poltergeist vibes. I recommend this to anyone that loves horror books. Be sure to look at the trigger warnings prior to reading it. Ahhhhh, this was just too good!! - I give it a 4.5 star rating -
July 2, 2024
After reading The Exorcist’s House before, I knew I wanted to read more by Nick Roberts, and I’m so glad I did.
My take on this is simple. This is a paranormal/cosmic horror novella with a “coming of age” trope that makes you laugh and freak out. I had a lot of fun reading this as it made me crack up and it gave me the creeps. The body horror in this was *chef’s kiss* and I think I will be leery of traveling through any tunnels in the near future. I loved the 2 different timelines for the MC named Mav, and his experiences on the night before turning 13 years of age and the days following, as well as him as an older adult basically going back and confronting the evil that lurks within a tunnel on the edge of his hometown. It may not be the most original plot as far as confronting the horrors of your past to end them in the present, but it’s still mighty effective and fun, and I had a great time experiencing it along with Mav.
🚲🚲🚲🚲/5
My take on this is simple. This is a paranormal/cosmic horror novella with a “coming of age” trope that makes you laugh and freak out. I had a lot of fun reading this as it made me crack up and it gave me the creeps. The body horror in this was *chef’s kiss* and I think I will be leery of traveling through any tunnels in the near future. I loved the 2 different timelines for the MC named Mav, and his experiences on the night before turning 13 years of age and the days following, as well as him as an older adult basically going back and confronting the evil that lurks within a tunnel on the edge of his hometown. It may not be the most original plot as far as confronting the horrors of your past to end them in the present, but it’s still mighty effective and fun, and I had a great time experiencing it along with Mav.
🚲🚲🚲🚲/5
February 20, 2025
* this goes to show that you don't need hundreds of pages to write a compelling, great book
* loved the story, it gives off big IT vibes, loved the small town setting
* great character development, great plot (although it's been done before), great writing
* big yesssas
* loved the story, it gives off big IT vibes, loved the small town setting
* great character development, great plot (although it's been done before), great writing
* big yesssas
November 30, 2024
1.5⭐️
The story could have been so much more interesting if the author was a good story-teller, could write characters as children and as adults differently. The story was bland, characters didn’t have anything except their names that differ.
Very underwhelming overall
The story could have been so much more interesting if the author was a good story-teller, could write characters as children and as adults differently. The story was bland, characters didn’t have anything except their names that differ.
Very underwhelming overall
April 9, 2025
"I have had it with these mother fucking dead ends in this mother fucking tunnel!!!"
September 30, 2025
"Am I emotionally ready to read another Nick Roberts book? Probably not. But here we are!"
Was, in fact, not emotionally ready for this read.
Was, in fact, not emotionally ready for this read.
May 30, 2024
I finished Dead End Tunnel the other day and loved every second of it. It’s no secret I love a good COA story, and Nick Roberts hits all the beats perfectly. There’s plenty of spooky moments packed into this novel and a lot of heart. Go grab it!
December 27, 2025
waw trop bien
June 13, 2024
Maverick Hall has spent years trying to forget the chilling events of his thirteenth birthday in the summer of 1999. That fateful night, he and his best friends ventured through a seemingly innocuous tunnel on their bikes — a journey from which not all of them returned.
As an adult, Maverick is haunted by a sinister force that compels him to return to his old neighbourhood, drawn back against his better judgment, he must face the dark forces that have lurked in waiting, eager for his return. As Maverick confronts the shadows of his past, he finds himself entangled in a web of mystery that threatens not only his sanity but his very survival.
MY REVIEW ❤️❤️❤️
Brimming with vibes from the 80s with movies like Goonies, or stand by me, throw into the mix a bit of lost boys, stranger things, and the exorcist, and what do you get? You get Nicks 4th novel Dead End Tunnel (a surprise release at that) a book with a BANG ON INTRODUCTION, as always.
If you're curious about the scare factor, there are way too many scary scenes in this book to write about, but you'll know what i mean when you read it. There is strong character development as always. It was a fast-paced read, and although the chapters may seem long, it never once made it feel like it dragged, in fact, at the end of each chapter you just wanted to read more to find out what happens next 😀
Not only can he write, but there is one thing that he does so well, and that is incorporate past events with the present, and the dead-end tunnel does this so well. Told in Mavs POV, the story is relayed somewhat in a recollection, starting with events of the present and going back and forth to events of the past, leaving no stone left unturned.
Nick never fails to disappoint, and with each book he writes, he seems to up the ante. First, it was the Exorcist house, then it was Anathema, Mean Spirited, and now Dead End Tunnel. Props to Nick as I feel with every new piece he writes he just seems to keep getting better and better!
Can't wait to see what The Exorcist house: Genesis has in store for me! 13/9/24 🥰🤟
As an adult, Maverick is haunted by a sinister force that compels him to return to his old neighbourhood, drawn back against his better judgment, he must face the dark forces that have lurked in waiting, eager for his return. As Maverick confronts the shadows of his past, he finds himself entangled in a web of mystery that threatens not only his sanity but his very survival.
MY REVIEW ❤️❤️❤️
Brimming with vibes from the 80s with movies like Goonies, or stand by me, throw into the mix a bit of lost boys, stranger things, and the exorcist, and what do you get? You get Nicks 4th novel Dead End Tunnel (a surprise release at that) a book with a BANG ON INTRODUCTION, as always.
If you're curious about the scare factor, there are way too many scary scenes in this book to write about, but you'll know what i mean when you read it. There is strong character development as always. It was a fast-paced read, and although the chapters may seem long, it never once made it feel like it dragged, in fact, at the end of each chapter you just wanted to read more to find out what happens next 😀
Not only can he write, but there is one thing that he does so well, and that is incorporate past events with the present, and the dead-end tunnel does this so well. Told in Mavs POV, the story is relayed somewhat in a recollection, starting with events of the present and going back and forth to events of the past, leaving no stone left unturned.
Nick never fails to disappoint, and with each book he writes, he seems to up the ante. First, it was the Exorcist house, then it was Anathema, Mean Spirited, and now Dead End Tunnel. Props to Nick as I feel with every new piece he writes he just seems to keep getting better and better!
Can't wait to see what The Exorcist house: Genesis has in store for me! 13/9/24 🥰🤟
June 18, 2024
Review to come.
January 3, 2026
Dead End Tunnel is one of those rare horror novels that taps straight into childhood fear and refuses to let go. From the opening pages, Nick Roberts captures that late-90s, bikes-and-bad-decisions energy perfectly, the kind that immediately evokes Stranger Things and IT without ever feeling like a cheap imitation.
The tunnel itself is pure nightmare fuel: ordinary, local, and utterly wrong. Roberts excels at making memory a weapon, slowly peeling back Maverick Hall’s past and showing how childhood trauma festers when left unexamined. The sense of dread is constant and creeping rather than flashy—this is atmospheric horror done right.
Maverick is a compelling, wounded protagonist, and the emotional weight of what happened that summer gives the story real stakes. The friendships, guilt, and unanswered questions feel painfully authentic, making the horror hit harder when it arrives.
The tunnel itself is pure nightmare fuel: ordinary, local, and utterly wrong. Roberts excels at making memory a weapon, slowly peeling back Maverick Hall’s past and showing how childhood trauma festers when left unexamined. The sense of dread is constant and creeping rather than flashy—this is atmospheric horror done right.
Maverick is a compelling, wounded protagonist, and the emotional weight of what happened that summer gives the story real stakes. The friendships, guilt, and unanswered questions feel painfully authentic, making the horror hit harder when it arrives.
July 3, 2025
Creepy as hell! Gave me that unsettled feeling that left me too anxious to dangle my foot off the bed at night. Stranger Things vibes for sure but with 90s nostalgia. Significant amount of gore and overall just an enjoyable, fast paced horror story. Would recommend to those that love the genre.
January 21, 2025
4.5⭐️ great CREEPY story! Audio is a must!
October 17, 2025
This book contain some very spooky Lovecraft horror
Read
December 21, 2025DNF. It was too sad.
May 17, 2024
Another 5-star read from Nick Roberts!
This started out as a serialized story on Patreon, and I couldn't imagine having to wait for each new installment since I had a hard time putting this book down! I read this in two sittings and stayed up until 3 a.m. last night to read just *one* more chapter.
It's fast-paced, nostalgic, creepy, and wonderfully edited. I love stories that center around a group of kids getting into trouble or figuring out how to save themselves. Think The Body, The Cursed Among Us, The Goonies, or The Lost Boys (similar vibes, in my opinion, but not rip-offs).
The story revolves around Mav's thirteenth birthday and what should've been one of the best nights of his life. One ill-fated bike ride changes all that, though, and forces Mav to grow up and take things into his own hands to save the ones he loves.
I loved everything about this book. The characters are well written, the dialogue isn't cheesy (even though it's set in the 90s), and the spooky imagery is perfect. I think it was the perfect length and wrapped up nicely without rushing the ending. Nick is an auto-buy for me as he consistently ups his writing game, and I eagerly await his next book!
This started out as a serialized story on Patreon, and I couldn't imagine having to wait for each new installment since I had a hard time putting this book down! I read this in two sittings and stayed up until 3 a.m. last night to read just *one* more chapter.
It's fast-paced, nostalgic, creepy, and wonderfully edited. I love stories that center around a group of kids getting into trouble or figuring out how to save themselves. Think The Body, The Cursed Among Us, The Goonies, or The Lost Boys (similar vibes, in my opinion, but not rip-offs).
The story revolves around Mav's thirteenth birthday and what should've been one of the best nights of his life. One ill-fated bike ride changes all that, though, and forces Mav to grow up and take things into his own hands to save the ones he loves.
I loved everything about this book. The characters are well written, the dialogue isn't cheesy (even though it's set in the 90s), and the spooky imagery is perfect. I think it was the perfect length and wrapped up nicely without rushing the ending. Nick is an auto-buy for me as he consistently ups his writing game, and I eagerly await his next book!
September 19, 2024
3.5
Super fun book. It's strange and sort of paranormal. Fast paced. Have to suspend some belief obviously but you usually do with this type of horror book. I had a good time with this. I could see this being a great movie.
Also the demonic possession popping up unexpectedly = delightful
Strong start. After about 70% it went a little downhill. The nostalgic 90s POV was the best part. Once it flipped more and more to present POV it was not as developed
Super fun book. It's strange and sort of paranormal. Fast paced. Have to suspend some belief obviously but you usually do with this type of horror book. I had a good time with this. I could see this being a great movie.
Also the demonic possession popping up unexpectedly = delightful
Strong start. After about 70% it went a little downhill. The nostalgic 90s POV was the best part. Once it flipped more and more to present POV it was not as developed
August 4, 2024
It was good until it wasn’t.
February 4, 2025
I love Nick Roberts but this one just fell short for me. Felt like a Stranger Things ripoff
November 19, 2025
I grabbed one of the numbered and signed editions, and the art of the alt-cover is great.
A novella that was previously released in segments to the author’s patreon, this ended up being a pretty well done and tight-knit story given the fact that it was done without a full write and edit first.
Mav’s thirteenth birthday is tomorrow. He’s excited for a night of pizza, cake, and horror VHS movies with his best friends Max and Blake. Unfortunately, it ends up being anything but a normal birthday. They do say the change from child to true teenager can be rocky, but I don’t think this is what they had in mind. When Max suggests a late night ride to the local gas station for some right-of-passage beer and smokes, the crew is thrust into a supernatural, decades spanning spiral as not all of them make it through their town’s creepy tunnel.
I feel like this read like experience. I hope for Roberts sake that experience doesn’t include a presence in a tunnel obviously, but the minute details of the story carried weight. Summer 1999, the teen boys with their bikes and riding the night away, mentions of the Y2K scare, the VHS movies, as well as the films of choice, all felt like a snapshot bordering on the personal. And that of course made it all the more believable. While for me in 1999 I was probably still on Disney VHS movies, I feel like I was the true last generation of biking and disappearing into the neighborhood with friends, so there were nostalgic notes to this for me as well.
I really enjoyed the choice of integrating the story with the future. Mav is not only still stuck on the event decades later, but he’s actually recalling the story for us now. That tells the reader right from the jump that things are serious, and that that night wasn’t just some freak event. After burying it for years, it has resurfaced in his dreams like some demonic PTSD. The chapter’s starting with this sort of bleak future for Mav, as well as the first person POV, really sold it for me.
I recall at one point having to put the book down while getting toward the build up and thinking “man, this guy really knows how to write a story.” I handled my business for the day and made sure to finish it that night. It builds to the reader finally discovering the entirety of what happened in 1999, which is quite a climax in itself, however the reader knows that Mav is telling the story from years later. What you get is almost two full back-to-back finales, both with different things happening, and I thought they were equally as thrilling.
Quick, intense violence, and a wicked twist ending.
https://fanfiaddict.com/review-dead-e...
A novella that was previously released in segments to the author’s patreon, this ended up being a pretty well done and tight-knit story given the fact that it was done without a full write and edit first.
Mav’s thirteenth birthday is tomorrow. He’s excited for a night of pizza, cake, and horror VHS movies with his best friends Max and Blake. Unfortunately, it ends up being anything but a normal birthday. They do say the change from child to true teenager can be rocky, but I don’t think this is what they had in mind. When Max suggests a late night ride to the local gas station for some right-of-passage beer and smokes, the crew is thrust into a supernatural, decades spanning spiral as not all of them make it through their town’s creepy tunnel.
I feel like this read like experience. I hope for Roberts sake that experience doesn’t include a presence in a tunnel obviously, but the minute details of the story carried weight. Summer 1999, the teen boys with their bikes and riding the night away, mentions of the Y2K scare, the VHS movies, as well as the films of choice, all felt like a snapshot bordering on the personal. And that of course made it all the more believable. While for me in 1999 I was probably still on Disney VHS movies, I feel like I was the true last generation of biking and disappearing into the neighborhood with friends, so there were nostalgic notes to this for me as well.
I really enjoyed the choice of integrating the story with the future. Mav is not only still stuck on the event decades later, but he’s actually recalling the story for us now. That tells the reader right from the jump that things are serious, and that that night wasn’t just some freak event. After burying it for years, it has resurfaced in his dreams like some demonic PTSD. The chapter’s starting with this sort of bleak future for Mav, as well as the first person POV, really sold it for me.
I recall at one point having to put the book down while getting toward the build up and thinking “man, this guy really knows how to write a story.” I handled my business for the day and made sure to finish it that night. It builds to the reader finally discovering the entirety of what happened in 1999, which is quite a climax in itself, however the reader knows that Mav is telling the story from years later. What you get is almost two full back-to-back finales, both with different things happening, and I thought they were equally as thrilling.
Quick, intense violence, and a wicked twist ending.
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May 17, 2024
Nick Roberts just keeps doing it!
Nick Roberts was the Author that introduced me to horror and simultaneously made me fall in love with horror. This book is just as awesome as his others! I especially love the way he captured growing up as a nineties kid and worrying maybe a little bit, about Y2K and then all the scary stuff was just *chef's kiss*
Definitely loved it and I can't wait for Nick to keep dropping those absolute bangers!
Nick Roberts was the Author that introduced me to horror and simultaneously made me fall in love with horror. This book is just as awesome as his others! I especially love the way he captured growing up as a nineties kid and worrying maybe a little bit, about Y2K and then all the scary stuff was just *chef's kiss*
Definitely loved it and I can't wait for Nick to keep dropping those absolute bangers!
July 23, 2024
The last Nick Roberts book I read, Mean Spirited, I didn't really enjoy, but he has redeemed himself to me with this story. This is quite a creepy, cosmic type of horror. I found the writing good enough for me to let my imagination fully picture what was going on, and I liked the diary/confession type format of the book, it worked well.
Definitely worth checking this out.
Definitely worth checking this out.
May 19, 2024
This is my kind of book, super creepy and really fast-paced 😀 I loved every moment I spent reading this book.
Every book I have read from Nick Roberts has been spectacular he is definitely one of my favorite authors
Every book I have read from Nick Roberts has been spectacular he is definitely one of my favorite authors
May 30, 2024
Throughly enjoyed.
I was gripped throughout. There was always something going on.
I loved the ending, which is rare.
Definitely had the creepy factor!
Stranger Things meets the Body Snatchers
5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I was gripped throughout. There was always something going on.
I loved the ending, which is rare.
Definitely had the creepy factor!
Stranger Things meets the Body Snatchers
5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
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